by Tom Pelissero, USA TODAY Sports

by Tom Pelissero, USA TODAY Sports

DENVER â?? Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh said he didn't find out until after Thursday's game that Wes Welker appeared to drop a key third-down catch in the Denver Broncos' 49-27 victory, blaming a lack of timely replay on the network telecast.

Kevin Byrne, the Ravens' senior vice president of public and community relations, informed Harbaugh of the missed opportunity to challenge in a hallway at Sports Authority Field shortly before the coach's media conference.

"It's the first I've heard of it," Harbaugh said. "That's something we've got to see. It would be nice if NBC would show that. Then we'd have the chance to look at it. We never saw that."

The play occurred on the opening drive of the second half with the Ravens leading 17-14 and the Broncos facing third-and-9 from their own 21-yard line.

TV replays appeared to show the ball hit the ground as Welker tried to bring it in on an out-breaking route.

"I just got up and acted like I caught it, and we just moved on from it," Welker said. "Maybe they could have [challenged]. I don't know."

Officials on the field ruled it a catch for a gain of 10 yards, and Peyton Manning hustled the Broncos to the line of scrimmage as he usually does.

Three plays later, Manning threw a 28-yard scoring pass to Andre Caldwell â?? the first of four consecutive Denver touchdowns as the home team took control.